“Working on behalf of the Mayor of London, OPDC is a dynamic and committed team with a deep passion for our exciting work to deliver one of the UK’s largest and most ambitious regeneration initiatives. The sheer scope and scale of our project offers unique opportunities for professional development, whilst delivering real improvements to Londoners.”
Liz Peace CBE, Chair of OPDC Board
EMPLOYEE DEVELOPMENT
OPDC is committed to developing the skills and capacity of staff, managers and teams to perform effectively and respond to organisational change. We provide a range of flexible and structured development options to develop staff competencies and careers, as well as opportunities for team and management progression.
Professional Membership
OPDC recognises the important work of professional associations, and will support membership where this will directly benefit the organisation, as well as the individual. Employees can be reimbursed for annual professional subscriptions in accordance with meeting the set criteria.
Volunteering Days
Employees who have successfully completed their probation period can have three days volunteering leave. OPDC supports employees who wish to do volunteering which reflects our corporate aims and objectives.
We recognise that employees who volunteer can use the skills they have developed at work to help the community. Employees can also learn new skills whilst volunteering which they can bring back in to the workplace, and volunteering can help to improve employee morale, wellbeing and work-life balance.
TRAVEL TO WORK
Season ticket loan
The OPDC can provide an interest-free season ticket loan to employees, who use public transport to travel from home to place of work.
Bicycle Loan
An interest free loan of up to £500 is available to employees (and employees on fixed term contracts may be eligible) who wish to purchase a bicycle to travel from home to work, or to purchase cycling equipment and accessories, or to cover bicycle servicing costs.
HEALTH AND WELLBEING
Healthcare
OPDC provides a health screening programme for all its employees. The screening includes a wide range of tests geared towards each employee individually.
Employee Assistance Programme
OPDC employees benefit from a free and confidential service that includes enhanced options for different types of emotional support depending on your needs. Employees can also access up to six sessions of telephone or face to face counselling as well as computer/work book-based CBT support. Legal information and financial wellbeing services to support life events and struggles are also available.
FAMILY AND HOME
Parental leave
The OPDC pay above the statutory requirements for maternity, shared parental, adoption and paternity leave.
Childcare Fee Loans
To assist working families across the GLA Group with the upfront cost of childcare, the Mayor has introduced a new Childcare Deposit Fees Loan. This interest free loan, of up to £1,500, is now available to all OPDC employees to assist with childcare registration and deposit fees which may be paid in advance to Ofsted registered childcare providers.
Tenancy Deposit Loans
The OPDC offers permanent employees an interest-free loan to help pay a tenancy deposit when moving into a privately rented home. The loan works much like a season ticket loan and repayments will be deducted over a period of 11 months’ after the loan has been issued.
WE ARE AN INCLUSIVE EMPLOYER
Inclusive Employers
OPDC is a member of Inclusive Employers. Inclusive Employers, established in May 2011, is the UK’s first and leading membership organisation for employers looking to build inclusive workplaces. They offer consultancy, training and thought leadership, to help organisations’ make inclusion an everyday reality in your place of work.
The Mayors Good Work Standard
The Mayor of London’s Good Work Standard was officially launched in summer 2019 as part of his commitment to making London the best city in the world to work.
We are pleased to be one of the first official Good Work Standard employers in London. We believe this is an important recognition of our commitment to our people. It also reflects the many ways in which we are striving for the best possible working conditions for our employees.
The Mayor’s Good Work Standard sets the benchmark for the best employment standards and helps employers contribute to a fairer and more inclusive London economy. The Mayor is working with businesses, like ours, to celebrate excellent work practices and assist businesses in adopting best practice approaches by bringing together a range of support and resources.
Flexible working
OPDC is proud to be a flexible employer. We offer a range of flexible working arrangements which allow employees to balance work and home commitments.
EQUITY, DIVERSION AND INCLUSION
Core to our vision is to be an organisation which identifies, prioritises, enables and champions equitable opportunities for everyone – both staff and our communities – regardless of background, race, age, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation or ability and to ensure that the area’s regeneration is accessible and inclusive which helps to create a more level playing field.
For OPDC, EDI is an integral part of how we work. We will continue to build and embed diverse and inclusive experiences, opinions and voices into everything we do – through our Board, our staff and our communities. Only by doing this, will we deliver the world class regeneration we aspire to. This strategy sets out our commitment to build on our good foundations to ensure EDI is truly embedded in our work.
View our EDI strategy.
INVESTING IN OUR TALENT
Future London Leaders
OPDC offers development opportunities for employees with Future London Leaders as part of their mandate to prepare the next wave of cross-sect city leaders.
Future of London (FOL) helps build better cities through knowledge, networks and leadership – across disciplines, organisations and sectors. They are the capital’s independent network for regeneration, housing, infrastructure and economic development practitioners, with 4,000+ professionals using FoL as a hub for sector intelligence, connection and professional development.
OTHER BENEFITS
My GLA Plus
As an exclusive benefit to OPDC and GLA employees, you’ll find amazing offers on many of your favourite retailers that you won’t find anywhere else. Better yet, all of the offers can be used on top of other promotions. Whether you’re looking for travel, supermarket, fashion, entertainment, home utilities or other savings, myGLA+ has something to interest you.
Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS)
You will receive a career average pension scheme providing you with a secure future income, independent of share prices and stock market fluctuations.
Annual Leave Trade In
Employees are offered 30 days annual leave every year, excluding bank and public holidays. Employees can trade up to two days’ annual leave for a range of other benefits such a gym membership between the period 1 April to 31 March each year.